Man City crush Liverpool 3–0 in Guardiola’s 1,000th game

Pep Guardiola celebrated his 1,000th match as Manchester City manager in style as his side cruised to a dominant 3–0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, climbing to second place in the Premier League table.

Erling Haaland shrugged off an early penalty miss to head City in front for his 99th Premier League goal, while Jeremy Doku ran riot down the flanks, tormenting the Liverpool defence throughout.

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Arne Slot’s side, full of early promise this season, were simply outclassed and outworked in a one-sided encounter.

With both clubs chasing Arsenal in the title race, this clash was billed as a litmus test for their ambitions. City were sharp, clinical, and relentless, everything Liverpool were not, trimming the Gunners’ lead to four points in the process.

Haaland, continuing his prolific form, finally broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, soaring high to nod home Matheus Nunes’ cross after a slick passing move.

The Norwegian had earlier seen his penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, who had brought down Doku in the box.

Liverpool briefly thought they had levelled before the interval when Virgil van Dijk’s header from Mohamed Salah’s corner hit the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside as Andy Robertson was deemed to have obstructed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

City doubled their lead just before halftime when Nico González’s long-range strike took a wicked deflection off Van Dijk, wrong-footing Mamardashvili.

Doku, already the standout performer, capped his electric display in the 62nd minute with a dazzling solo goal, curling a superb right-footed effort into the top corner from 20 yards.

The win lifted Man City above Chelsea into second, only four points behind leaders Arsenal.